When is Probate Required?

Not every estate requires probate, but many do. Whether it is needed depends primarily on how assets are held and their value.

Where a property was owned in the sole name of the deceased, probate is almost always required before it can be sold or transferred. Financial institutions set their own internal thresholds - often between £5,000 and £50,000 - above which they will not release funds without a grant.

Assets held jointly will usually pass automatically to the surviving owner under the right of survivorship, which can mean probate is not required for those assets. However, this does not automatically mean the estate as a whole falls outside the probate process.

A common issue is assuming probate is not required when it actually is. This can cause significant delay in administering the estate and create difficulties for those waiting on the outcome.

At MJV Solicitors, we help families assess whether probate is required and advise on the correct steps to take.

Probate FAQs

Is probate always required?

No, but it is required in most estates involving property or significant assets.

What triggers the need for probate?

Sole ownership of property, or assets held above an institution's internal threshold.

Do jointly held assets avoid probate?

They often pass automatically, but this depends on the type of ownership.

Back to Ultimate Guide

Purchase price	Our fee	VAT	Total
£0-£100,000	£600	£120	£720
£100,001 - £150,000	£650	£130	£780
£150,001 - £200,000	£700	£140	£840
£200,001 - £250,000	£750	£150	£900
£250,001 - £300,000	£800	£160	£960
£300,001 - £400,000	£850	£170	£1020
£400,001 - £500,000	£900	£180	£1080
£500,001 - £750,000	£1000	£200	£1200

Additional charge and explanation	Our fee	VAT	Total
Bank transfer fee	£30.00	£6.00	£36.00
Independent ID verification (per person)	£5.00	£1.00	£6.00

Charge	Our fee	VAT	Total
Purchase of a leasehold house	£100.00	£20.00	£120.00
Purchase of any other leasehold property	£150.00	£30.00	£180.00
Purchase of a shared ownership property	£250.00	£50.00	£300.00
Gifted deposit	£50.00	£10.00	£60.00
New build property	£250.00	£50.00	£300.00

Local Authority’s current search fee (if Blackpool, Wyre or Fylde)	£122.70 inc VAT
Drainage and Water search fee	£79.50 inc VAT
Environmental search	£71.40 inc VAT
Land Registry priority title search	£3.00 no VAT
Bankruptcy search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title	£2.00 no VAT
Land charges search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title	£2.00 no VAT

Purchase price	Land Registry registration fee (no VAT)
£0 - £80,000	£20.00 no VAT
£80,001 - £100,000	£40.00 no VAT
£100,001 - £200,000	£100.00 no VAT
£200,001 - £500,000	£150.00 no VAT
£500,001 - £1,000,000	£295.00 no VAT
£1,000,000 and above	£500.00 no VAT

When is Probate Required?

Probate FAQs

Call: 01253 858231

info@mjvlaw.co.uk

Cleveleys Office

Blackpool Office

Conveyancing price guide

Introductory paragraph explaining price transparency and why the costs are displayed below.

Purchasing

Selling

Purchase price	Our fee	VAT	Total
£0-£100,000	£600.00	£120.00	£720.00
£100,001 - £150,000	£650.00	£130.00	£780.00
£150,001 - £200,000	£700.00	£140.00	£840.00
£200,001 - £250,000	£750.00	£150.00	£900.00
£250,001 - £300,000	£800.00	£160.00	£960.00
£300,001 - £400,000	£850.00	£170.00	£1020.00
£400,001 - £500,000	£900.00	£180.00	£1080.00
£500,001 - £750,000	£1000.00	£200.00	£1200.00
Over £750,000	To be negotiated	To be applied	To be agreed